DoD CTO Emil Michael urges Trump administration to avoid AI nationalization and tighter regulation

Emil Michael, serving as the chief technology officer for the Department of Defense, appeared on one outlet to caution the Trump administration against nationalizing artificial-intelligence companies or acquiring equity positions in them. He said government participation would not serve the nation’s interests, especially given that the top U.S. AI firms rank among the biggest corporations in history. Michael also dismissed the push for more extensive federal regulation, pointing to the Federal Trade Commission’s existing authority as sufficient oversight.

Aligning with President Trump, he described heightened AI concerns as a coordinated campaign designed to scare the public for the benefit of established industry players. His remarks surface as lawmakers debate a spectrum of ideas, from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s voluntary 5 percent stake proposal to Senator Bernie Sanders’s plan for a $7 trillion sovereign wealth fund that would compel large AI firms to surrender half their shares. The administration has already taken a 10 percent stake in Intel and secured a “golden share” in U.S. Steel, highlighting its willingness to intervene in other sectors.